(FOX40.COM) — A new partnership between the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office and Monarch Recovery Centers aims to reduce crime by expanding access to rehabilitation treatment for non-violent, repeat offenders.

In Sacramento County, the Chronic Offender Rehabilitation Effort, or CORE, gives individuals who are arrested or cited at least ten times in one year for non-violent offenses, the choice of jail time or the opportunity for treatment. However, the county didn’t have enough resources to always provide that recovery. This new partnership brings in 25 new treatment beds.

“This is a step forward,” Sacramento County District Attorney Thien Ho said at a press conference. “It is a true step forward.”

According to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, in recent years, four out of 10 people who are released from prison go on to commit, and be arrested for, offenses again.

“What we are trying to do here is to make sure that we give people an opportunity at treatment and transformation,” Ho said.

At the press conference, Sacramento County Supervisor Rich Desmond explained how voters passed Proposition 36, which — essentially — opens this alternative opportunity for treatment. This legislation is separate from the county’s CORE program. Desmond explained that, while the funding was not provided through the legislation, this partnership helps them carry out what voters wanted.

“The dilemma that we have faced for years is when individuals accept the treatment path, we have not been able to consistently provide them with treatment beds — until now,” Ho said.

He explained that the county has committed funding to make this opportunity — providing 25 new treatment beds and up to a year of support for these offenders — a reality. He said, formerly, it could take 30-60 days to find space for these offenders in a treatment center. The local leader added that when it comes to recovery, timing is critical.

“These aren’t just beds, these are opportunities at treatment and services and transformation,” Ho said.

Those arrested are assessed and can participate if factors like substance abuse or mental health status are seen as driving their behavior. Again, this only applies to those with non-violent offenses, which include crimes like trespassing, vandalism, prostitution, petty theft, drug offenses, etc.

County leaders added that those who qualify for this option represent a small group of offenders relative to the county’s population. Therefore, some may question how the majority of the population will be impacted. Sacramento County Supervisor Rosario Rodriguez explained.

“[These criminals’] offenses may be labeled ‘low level,’ but their impact is anything but low level for a small business owner, repeated theft, trespassing, public intoxication and threatening behavior can mean loss of customers, damaged property, frightened employees and another call for law enforcement,” Rodriguez said. “For residents, it can mean parks, sidewalks, shopping centers, public spaces that are no longer feel safe.”

Those who complete the program are rewarded by avoiding jail time. However, leaders called this an “opportunity with standards.” They confirmed those who don’t follow the rules are held accountable.

“This opportunity comes with expectations. Participants must stay engaged. They must follow the program. They must appear when required, and they must remain for crime free,” Ho said. “We will offer help, but help must be accepted.”

Ho shared a story of success.

“We had an individual that came out to Sacramento, to play sports, and that individual ended up getting injured,” Ho began. “That individual ended up getting addicted to drugs, ended up being homeless on the streets, committing crime after crime. It was because of the CORE program when they were committing these low level offenses, they were taken into custody, but we didn’t have any place to treat them, and it took a while to get them into a treatment program. But when we did that, individual recovered, obtained sobriety and reunited with their family.”

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